Vegan Runners Japan

2014年8月20日水曜日

Sorry for the short notice but please join for an easy pace trail run on the Takao-Jimba course. Takao provides some beginner friendly trails with a water refill point on the summit.

We'll take a trail called the 6th course on Takao, which is not crowded and very shady and cool along a stream (http://www.takaotozan.co.jp/cource/). It's 3.3K to the summit (about 1.5H if you hike), and then you can decide if you want to keep running toward Jimba. I plan to do the Takao-Jimba round trip which is about 40K or may climb down the mountain from Jimba that makes 20K+.

The plan:
We will meet outside of the Takaosanguchi Station (高尾山口駅, Keio Line) at 9 am around the coin locker area. In case the lockers are full, we may need to go back to the Takao Station for empty lockers.

After the run, we can go to an onsen near the Takao station.

What to bring:
- Your drink/Camelpak (bottles are OK, too, but pls note that bottles can move/shift around a lot in your backpack as you run): At least 1 L of liquid. There are a few vendors on these mountains where you can refill. But please don't underestimate your water needs on mountains especially under the hot weather.
(I have a couple of extra running backpacks and one of them comes with a 2L camelpak. Let me know if you want to borrow one.)
- Some foods/snacks/candies, etc. as this activity can take long hours. You need to keep charging your body.
- Trail shoes would be preferable, but regular running shoes should be ok for this course.
- Your cell phone (and if you have, extra battery would be sometimes very useful. Otherwise I recommend turning off your cell phone once on the trail.)
- Some cash, and your ID & Insurance Card or copies of those: You never know what will happen on mountains.
- Onsen stuff: towel, change of clothes (you can rent towels at the facility. Soap/Shampoo is provided for free.).
- If you have: the area map, a compass, headlight and other kinds of trail run/hiking goods as needed like insect repellent, a bear bell, a first aid kit, etc. ※ I strongly encourage the participants to bring their own map or feel free to ask me for a color copy in advance (50 yen).

Please let me know if you have any questions. Also, your request/recommendation is welcome! Looking forward to running with you!

2014年7月31日木曜日

Meeting time:9 am at the south exit of the Takao Station (not the Takaosanguchi Station!)Plan:We'll avoid the popular routes that start from the Takaosanguchi Station. Instead, we'll meet at the Takao station and enter the trail near there from Konpira Ryokuchi Tozanguchi （金比羅緑地登山口）. From there, we will follow the trail called Kanto Fureai no Michi (関東ふれあいの道) and head to Shiroyama (城山 670m) via Kusatoyama (草戸山 365m), Irisawayama (入沢山 500m)、and Otarumi Toge (大垂水峠 392m). The distance to Shiroyama is about 13.5K. At Shiroyama, we have options: make a turn and head to the Takaosanguchi Station via Mt. Takao summit (599m), or keep running towards Mt. Jimba (855m). Total distance will be around 19K if we turn at Shiroyama, or around 25K if we head to Jimba. Also, there are several escape routes if you need to make it shourter. If we run down from Jimba, we will take a bus from Jimba Kogen Shita (陣馬高原下) to the Takao station which runs hourly. After the run, we can go to an onsen near the Takao station.What to bring: - Water/Camel Bag: 2 liters recommended; There are also a couple of refill points and vendors on these mountains (but not many). Please don't underestimate your water needs on mountains. (I have a couple of extra running backpacks and one of them comes with a 2L camel bag so let me know if you want to borrow one.) - Some foods/snacks/candies, etc. as this activity can take long hours. You need to keep charging your body. - Wearing trail run shoes is highly recommended (Doable with regular running shoes but they can be slippery.) - Your mobile phone (and if you have, extra battery may become very useful. Otherwise I recommend turning off your mobile phone once on the trail.) - Your ID and Insurance Card or copies of those: You never know what will happen on mountains. - Onsen stuff: towel, change of clothes (you can rent towels at the facility. Soap/Shampoo is provided for free.). - If you have: the area map, a compass, headlight and other kinds of trail run/hiking goodies as needed like insect repellent, a bear bell, a first aid kit, etc. ※ I strongly encourage the participants to bring their own map!

Please feel free to adjust the distance and pace for your level. The coursse will be the Palace loop unless otherwise mentoined or requested.
ご自分で走る距離やペースは無理ないように調整しながら、気軽に参加してください。走るコースは明記しない限り、またリクエストなどがない限り、皇居になります。